Istanbul Travel Guide

Whenever you travel to a foreign country you need to have certain precautions, especially if you do not speak the language fluently and you are not familiar with city. This is even true if you are visiting Istanbul. Here are a few travel tips in case you are going to Istanbul in the near future.

If you do not speak Turkish, try to get yourself a dictionary or a phrase book. Not many people speak English here so you are going to want to learn a few phrases for politeness and in case of danger. You should learn the basics: hello, how are you, goodbye, stop, help and anything else you find useful.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few scams that occur in Istanbul. The major caution areas for scams are in well known hotels, taxis, bars and places that handle money such as marketplaces. In well known hotels, such that are in a guidebook, are aware of their popularity and service so they often try to hike up their prices. Try to avoid these places that are found in guide books or go with a local so they can help you out.

 

While preparing to flag down a taxi, try to only catch the attention of newer cars and if you feel unsafe by just looking at the cab driver, use your instinct and flag down another cabby. Some scams that taxi drivers indulge in are raising their prices or overcharging, giving a lot more money then necessary because they will pretend that you have only given him or her less money even though you have given him more than enough, and saying that your money is fake and demanding another bill. If you are only going a short distance try to walk or go with a local who can straighten things out for you.

Many times people will tell you that the price of a certain object whether it be a meal, clothing, a hotel room, etc. is in Liras and upon asking for payment they say the same number but in Euros. If you are staying at a hotel make sure that you pay upfront and if the hotel prefers you for you to pay later, do not stay there. If you are drinking, pay upon receiving the drink and do not wait for a bill that was originally in Liras to become a bill in Euros. Also do not eat in restaurants that do not have a fixed menu price.

Never walk alone at night, especially if you are a woman. Men often try to take advantage of women and it has even gotten to the point of stalking them. Try to always walk with a man or at least a group of Turkish women. Also try not to dress provocatively as this will only enhance the male’s attraction to you.

These are just a few tips to stay safe while traveling in Istanbul.

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